Kukla's Korner Hockey

Q: It sounds like you have a chip on your shoulder.
A: I do. Until I retire, it’s going to be the fuel that energizes me. People have overlooked me my whole career and still do today.
Q: Does it bother you when you see these 6-foot-4, 235-pound players, who don’t have the same skill level as you, potentially taking away the chance for another Dan Boyle-type player to get a look?
A: Yeah, that bothers me. If I am helping any smaller defensemen get a look, if I am helping out in any way, that makes me more proud than anything. Eight years ago, you couldn’t name five guys with my size in the league. Now, there are more and more smaller defensemen getting a chance. It’s great.

Peter Forsberg has been in Nashville since Feb. 15, and yet it seems as if he will add a fresh dynamic to the rivalry Thursday night when the Predators and Detroit Red Wings play for first place in the Western Conference….
The Predators acquired Forsberg specifically because of his reputation for bringing grit and high performances to big games, particularly in the playoffs. Thursday’s game has some qualities of a playoff game, only because Detroit is winning the season series and the Red Wings have long been a measuring stick for the Predators.
“Detroit is always hard to beat, no matter who you are,” Forsberg said. “I don’t think there is any mental hurdle. We know we are a good team. We know we can compete with them.”

Penguins forward Gary Roberts did not practice today and is unlikely to play Thursday night against the Boston Bruins.
Roberts, 40, was injured Wednesday night during the Penguins’ 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals when he was struck by a shot from teammate Sidney Crosby during the second period. The knee remained swollen today.

In case you missed it, Alanah at Canucks and Beyond participated in an NHL tele-conference with Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo.
She asked him a few questions and will also have the transcript up when available.
added 4:11pm, The tele-conference transcript is now available...

The Hockey News polled players from all 30 NHL clubs - 283 NHLers in total - to find out their thoughts on the game. Here are their responses:
Compared to 2005-06, how is the NHL product this season?
1) About the same (167) 62%
2) Better (84) 31%
3) Worse (20) 7%

The only difference is last year the goaltender was changing from game to game. Now, it is from period to period. Soon, the Lightning could make NHL history with goaltender line changes.
This, my friends, is a collapse.
It is not a slump. It is not a fluke.
This is a team in the middle of the playoff chase looking as if it has a chicken bone lodged in its throat.
“There’s no explanation. It’s not like we have any time to mess with,” defenseman Dan Boyle said. “Five games to go, anything less than four (wins) and we’re probably going to be out.”

In the movies, the cavalry always arrives just in the nick of time and saves the day. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work that way in the NHL. But for at least one team facing another playoff-less summer, a last-minute reinforcement provides a reason to believe things will improve next season.
The long-suffering Los Angeles faithful will get a look at a big part of their future on Thursday night when Jack Johnson pulls on a Kings sweater for the first time. As good as Anze Kopitar has been this season—and the 19-year-old Slovenian forward has been a bright light in a very dark tunnel—it is Johnson who is at the core of GM Dean Lombardi’s vision for reconstructing the Kings.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov has called on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to support the push for a historic nation-versus-nation hockey match-up to mark the 35th anniversary of the historic Summit Series.
The 1972 on-ice battle—held at the height of the Cold War—grabbed the attention of citizens of both nations and is widely remembered as a key moment in Canada’s hockey history.
Now, there is a movement afoot to hold another tournament to mark the 35th anniversary of the original eight-game event which Canada won.

To kick off the limited edition Edge Body Gear, a private launch event will be held at the Dominator Clothing store on March 27th in Birmingham, Mich. Edge owners and hand raisers will be among the guests attending this launch event to be the first to view and purchase the Edge Body Gear. Dominik Hasek, founder of Dominator Clothing and Red Wings hockey player, will be onsite to ‘meet and greet’ during the event, along with a special appearance by Igor Larionov.

more… (There are so many ways I could make fun of this, but Paul might fire me when he gets back to work! Alas.)